I predominantly drink only Islay, then again I like Burgundy which supposedly smells and tastes like s#*t too.

Vitis, I'm right there with you. I tried so hard to appreciate Islay scotch - I spent 3 days wandering around Edinburogh and half of Scotland and thought I'd bring home some exciting stuff. My overall impression of it (and later tastes of Laphroig) was that it tasted like somebody put out a bonfire with 5 gallons of Listerine and then recycled it in a bottle. Speyside and highland? Wonderful stuff.

You're right - Islay whiskies are definitely an acquired taste (and not for the faint of heart!), but on a cold and rainy night there's nothing better. Lagavulin 16 and Caol Ila 18 are my drams of choice but I can be talked into trying most anything.

Two things: my guess is that you bought the Laphroaig 10 Year Old (since there is no 12 Year Old) which is probably my least favorite Islay. It has an iodine character that is quite unpleasant. If you ever have a chance to try the Laphroaig 15 Year Old you'll have a completely different experience - less peat, less smoke and no iodine. Somewhat the same story with the Bowmore 12 Year Old. It's not bad but you really have to get up to the 17 Year Old before Bowmore starts to sing - the younger expressions aren't that interesting or distinctive.

Full disclosure: I sell all of these whiskies in my shop, but we always tell our customers who want to "move up" to the Islays to try one or two in a bar or restaurant first. They're obviously not for everybody and there's no point in having an almost full bottle in your liquor cabinet for the next 20 years.

Richard

Laphroiag and Lagavullin are the lion's share of what I drink...although a nice friend brought me a bottle of Springbank which has been slowly disappearing.